With the Montreal Canadiens up a goal against the Boston Bruins in the third period Thursday night, Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien sent Manny Malhotra out for a defensive-zone faceoff Malhotra easily won over Gregory Campbell.

Chalk another one up for the veteran center, whose addition to last July 1 might end up paying way more dividends for the Canadiens than people first bargained.

For starters, Malhotra is among the league's top faceoff men, which will improve the team's defensive-zone start numbers. Through five games, he's won 65 percent of his faceoffs.

But his impact might be just as important off the ice, where he's already made himself one of the most vocal leaders on the team despite being a newcomer.

Hockey people are not big on Disney-like comeback stories. To them, it was clear that Malhotra’s NHL career was over. But luckily, not only was Malhotra’s vision not very good at the time, his hearing wasn’t either. He was never directed to retire, or at least, he claims, never heard those words from anyone who was important to him, or whose opinion he valued. “I believed in myself. My family and friends believed in me,” he says. “Players who I had played with, played against, retired players in the Vancouver area, all said the same thing: ‘If you feel you can still play, go and get it.’”

Malhotra scored the first goal of his comeback Tuesday night on an overtime breakaway against Philadelphia, snapping a five-game losing streak for the Carolina Hurricanes. On Wednesday he spoke to me about about self-belief. “I always knew I was healthy enough to play; I always felt I had something to offer,” he says. “The biggest thing was just getting that opportunity again.

“I’ve always been grateful (for) every moment I’ve played in the NHL. But (the injury) puts it into perspective, just how close it was to having it all be done for me.

“After everything I’ve been through, it’s special to know that there is still a (team) who believes in me.”
The fact remains that Vancouver’s doctors and hockey personnel agreed Malhotra was endangering himself on the ice.

Via Pro Hockey Talk's James O'Brien, Manny Malhotra had to sign a pro try-out with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers when he couldn't find NHL employment, but he put in his time, earned a two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, and on Tuesday, Malhotra proved that he could still contribute at the NHL in a big way, scoring the game-winning goal in the Hurricanes' 2-1 OT win over Philadelphia:

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with center Manny Malhotra (mal-HOH-truh) on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Malhotra $600,000 at the NHL level, or $125,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with a guarantee of $250,000.

“Manny brings a level of veteran leadership to the Hurricanes organization and gives the team depth at the center position,” said Rutherford. “He has demonstrated in his career that he can be an extremely good defensive player and faceoff man.”

Vancouver, B.C. – The Vancouver Canucks announced today that centre Manny Malhotra has been placed on Injured Reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2012.13 NHL season.

“The long term health of Manny Malhotra is of utmost importance to our organization,” said Michael D. Gillis, President and General Manager, Canucks Sports & Entertainment. “Throughout his career Manny has showcased his indispensability through skilled play, being a consummate professional and leader in the room while also continuously giving back to the community. Manny will continue to be a valued member of our organization.”

The past three weeks have been a very emotional time for myself and my family. I owe a great deal of thanks to a number of people. First and foremost my wife Joann who has been a pillar of strength for me and kept me focused on the best possible outcome at all times. Thank you to my teammates, coaches and training staff, your care and concern has meant a great deal to me. The Aquilini family, Mike Gillis and Laurence Gilman have made my recovery a priority; I have received the best possible medical care throughout this entire process. It is truly a blessing to be part of an organization with such quality, caring people and I can’t thank them enough.

The NHL is a tight-knit community. I would like to thank all the players, coaches and GM’s around the league, some I’ve never even had the chance to meet, who extended their regards and best wishes for a speedy recovery. My most heartfelt and sincere thank you to all of the incredible fans in Vancouver and around the league for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. Your messages were a daily reminder of what a privilege it is to play for you.

I will forever be grateful to the incredible group of surgeons both in Vancouver and New York who performed two successful surgeries, to restore the vision in my eye. Although there is a lot of recovery and healing to take place, I am very optimistic for a good outcome. Thank you to my agent and good friend Paul Krepelka for being with me through surgery and recovery in New York. Your friendship over the years has been invaluable.

My family and I are very grateful for the patience, concern and privacy we’ve been shown by the media and thank you for your continued support.

Vancouver, B.C. – After further consultation with specialists and team doctors, today Vancouver Canucks forward Manny Malhotra underwent a second successful eye procedure. Manny Malhotra’s health continues to be the primary concern of the hockey club. Progress updates will be made available at the appropriate time. No further comment is planned at this time.

Vancouver, B.C. - Following an initial procedure and continued treatment it has been determined through consultation with team doctors and specialists that Manny Malhotra will not return to the Canucks lineup for the remainder of this regular season and playoffs. No further comment will be made at this time.

When Manny Malhotra left the ice in a bloody mess Wednesday after a second period neutral-zone collision with Erik Johnson — in which the Vancouver Canucks centre was hit by the puck above the eye — it brought the biggest postseason fear into focus. Malhotra was sent to the hospital with blood in his eye and the actual extent of the injury won’t be known until today and there’s some fear of a broken orbital bone.

“I don’t think anybody should speculate one way or the other,” cautioned Canucks coach Alain Vigneault.

Then again, team doctors were huddled in a hallway long after the game, so read whatever you want into that. So, forget a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena that gave the club seven-straight triumphs and secured the franchise’s third-consecutive Northwest Division title and fourth in the last five years.

The key acquisition was Malhotra, who signed a three-year, $7.5 million deal on July 1. One observer told ESPN.com the Canucks had actually listed Malhotra at the top of their free-agent shopping list, ahead of Hamhuis or any other players. They got him, but not before Malhotra made sure it was the right move. The story goes that Malhotra, no dummy, had as many questions for Gillis and the Canucks as the NHL club had for him.

“It was a very calculated decision on July 1,” Malhotra, 30, told ESPN.com. “We were talking with quite a few teams, all of them in various stages—some were contenders, some were rebuilding and some were turning the corner. We looked at a roster like this, we spoke with Alain and Mike and the role they saw me in ... everything worked out and it was the best possible place for me to go.”

His $2.5 million salary is a nice raise over the $700,000 he made in San Jose last season, also a calculated move on his part. He took less money than what other teams had offered so he could play with a contender and perhaps enhance his stock in the process. Did he ever. The hard-working Malhotra, a faceoff king, was an impressive force in San Jose’s run to the final four, enough for the Canucks to salivate at the thought of adding him as their third-line center.

“I just think the fan got a little bit too involved,” Malhotra said. “There’s just no place for that in our game.

“There’s boundaries that should never be crossed. We’re in our area of work. We are all for the hootin’ and hollerin’ and supporting your team and saying whatever is tasteful out there. But as soon as you cross that line and want to become physical with a player, we have to make sure we take care of ourselves and we’re protected.”

Initial replays do not back up Malhotra. The video shows Rypien lunging from the bench area into the stands and at the fan who was just clapping, and maybe jawing at Malhotra.

Malhotra unloaded his Swiss Army knife set of skills in the Shark Tank last year. He centred a grind line and played wing on the power play. He dominated defensive faceoffs and showcased a low and hard slapshot. He developed into, quite possibly, the best defensive forward on the Sharks. He finished with a career high 14 goals, had a career best plus-17 rating and established a new reputation. He did it all for $700,000.

How will it translate in Vancouver where he expectations have ballooned with his salary? Too early. It’s September and everyone looks promising. Even Victor Oreskovich has people excited.

Still, it’s possible the best moves the Canucks made this offseason were not the loudest and most expensive additions they made to their defence. Instead, what may prove to be the most noticeable difference is replacing Kyle Wellwood and Steve Bernier with Raffi Torres and Malhotra. That, should be a significant step up in class.

SAN JOSE - San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed center Manny Malhotra. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Malhotra, 29, recently finished his 12th NHL season, posting a career-high 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) and as a plus-nine with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also finished fourth in the NHL in faceoff percentage among those who took at least 700 face-offs) at 58.0%. He took 1380 face-offs last season, 13th most in the NHL.

The ongoing competition for a forward spot on the Sharks’ roster is getting a little tougher just as the exhibition season that determines who stays and who goes is about to begin.

Free agent Manny Malhotra, a 29-year-old center who has spent the past five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, is about to become a Shark, according to an NHL source.

Malhotra, who immediately becomes a favorite for a spot on San Jose’s third line, won’t be in the lineup tonight when the Sharks face the Los Angeles Kings in Southern California but should be with the team in the next two or three days.

Q: You’re still without a contract, an unrestricted free agent. What’s the outlook for you heading into 2009-10?

A: I’m like a lot of guys around the league, waiting for that right opportunity. It’s frustrating, obviously. We’d like to be settled. We’d like to know where we’re going to be at this point, but there’s no sense rushing into situations.

Q: Do you have offers on the table right now?

A: There’s a lot of things that have to take place. Other moves that have to go down before they open up.

Q: Any regrets about not signing here when the Blue Jackets were talking to you in late June, before free agency?

A: We stressed over and over the fact that we wanted to be here. There were a lot of issues: that we were part of the community, that we had friends outside the game, that I knew my role in the dressing room and on the ice. Those things ... I don’t know how many times I said I wanted to be here. That part about it is frustrating….

—Believe it or not, Manny Malhotra represented the Blue Jackets in Chicago at the NHLPA meeting on Saturday. This is strange, because Malhotra is no longer under contract with the Blue Jackets and has virtually no chance of returning to Columbus, which signed free agent Sammy Pahlsson over the summer. Still, the Blue Jackets have not congregated to elect a new representative, and, hey, Malhotra has lots of time on his hands these days. He remains unsigned, although Atlanta and Florida are believed to have been interested. Malhotra has been skating, both in Columbus and Vancouver, where his wife’s family resides.

—Talked to Michael Peca today. He’s still unsigned, too, but said he’s had inquiries from a handful of clubs, all in the Eastern Conference. Nothing is close, he said, but it could happen at anytime. He has no plans to retire, he said.

When the puck bounced off Turco, then caromed off Malhotra’s skate and went into the net, the Blue Jackets came charging off the bench to celebrate. Both NHL officials—Stephane Auger and Kerry Fraser—had it as a goal on the ice.

And then the light went on in the official scorer’s booth between the penalty boxes.